Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“Ophelia, I don’t—” True began.
“Son,” she said softly, “do you not think I have stood by the side of many a warrior’s bed and explained to them there are mountains we face in this life that seem insurmountable, until we reach the peak?”
True relaxed, and I did as well.
“I will have a care,” she promised, but she did not leave, and her gaze stayed locked to True. “Your mother was a great woman. Her loss is felt.”
And with that, her two lieutenants in her wake, the Nadirii queen left the room.
I controlled my lip quivering at the same time felt that itch in my hand to reach to True.
I looked to Elpis.
She nodded.
Thus, I took my husband’s hand.
His fingers closed tight around mine.
The door opened and I tried to pull away.
He disallowed that, and holding hands, we both looked to Ry, who stood in the door.
“It would seem we need to send birds,” he announced. “I apologize for the delay.”
“You have until tomorrow morning at ten,” True returned.
“But, Your Grace, birds cannot—” Ry started.
True stood, and as he had my hand, I stood with him.
“Tomorrow, ten,” he repeated. “Now we all have things we wish to do. We’ll use the ensuing time to do them.”
And thus, he guided me out of the room at his side, and I walked with as much dignity as I could with my arm in a sling.
Two (and a half) more days, and I could be free of it.
Two (and a half) more days, and that daily reminder of what befell us on our wedding day could be gone for me and for True.
Two (and a half) more days, and I could pounce on my husband and make him truly mine.
Two (and a half) more days, and I could share things with True that might exhaust him enough to make him sleep an entire night, but at the very least they would take his mind from things that weighed heavily.
Two (and a half) more days.
I couldn’t wait.
95
The Abyss
King Aramus
Throne Room, Keel Castle, Nautilus
MAR-EL
When the hinges of the tall doors down the long hall groaned in protest, Aramus, sitting on his throne atop his podium, had the desire to shout in frustration.
Along the journey home, he, with his queen, had drafted (and redrafted, and then again, and more) the language he would use for the changes he would be making in his realm.
And in doing so, he, with the encouragement of his queen, made one adjustment to what he had promised the rulers of the other realms of Triton.
That being, not only would bounden be released after five years of service…
No new ones would be taken.
Even by pirates.
This would not be popular for some, but True had been right, the time not only had come, it was long past.
Not to mention, regimes that allowed just that were breeding grounds for causes like The Rising.
And he would not have that in Mar-el.
Therefore, upon arrival, he was ready.
Thus, he set his secretaries to putting pen to paper, and he signed his signature at the bottom.
He then ordered the royal heralds ready to ride, for the bounden holders would be given advance notice to the changes in the law in order that they could begin preparations immediately for said changes.
He then had the paperwork drawn up to make just those changes in the law.
At the same time, Aramus sent ships to ports and soldiers across the land to provide presence, and if necessary, quell resistance when the letters were received and when the new law was officially heralded.
This had taken days.
It was now done.
However, in all of this, he had forgotten how it was when he was away on a long voyage and what he came back to on his return.
Copious missives, grievances, arbitrations, decisions that had to be made, orders carried out.
The good news was, although the last tidal was extreme, it did not cause significant or long-lasting damage, though there were two losses of life.
The bad news was, for the last three days, his arse sat that throne as his people came before him in an endless stream with a variety of complaints, concerns, and in a few rare, but exceptionally annoying cases, demands.
Through this, to the now, his men, save Tintagel, loitered around the base of his podium, already displaying impatience to get off land and back to sea, to some adventure, to anything but this ridiculous, time-wasting lunacy.
He had never liked this part of his role.
His father hadn’t either.
His men didn’t either.
However, in all that had occurred, he’d forgotten just how much they all found this trying.
Thus, he could feel his men, too, radiating exasperation when the doors began to open but minutes after Aramus had demanded everyone get out so they could have a rest from the incessant chatter.
However, when the heavy doors opened enough that Aelia could slip through, dancing, followed by Dora, who, even not of Elena’s blood, had the Nadirii princess’s economy of grace, and finally his wife entered, Aramus not only relaxed.